Joe Hertz - Current Blues
By CHRISTIANAH JESUDASS-ROBERTS (@mstiaroberts)
Release date: JULY 17, 2020
Every so often an artist comes onto my radar, and I mentally take note their new release day and subconsciously wait in anticipation to hear the predicted brilliance. Joe Hertz is one of these musicians. I made a mental note that his debut album, Current Blues, was due to be released on the 17th of July, however, alongside curating birthday celebrations, I knew I would have to wait a few days to allow myself the space to devote my attention fully to this piece of artistry.
God, was it worth the wait!
Whilst using the album as the backdrop to my preparations for a night out, I was pleasantly bombarded with imagery and feelings that the album brought out within its powerful musicality. I was immediately thrown into an escapade of smooth urban jazz, so persuasive that at moments whilst getting ready I was forced to note down the feelings and expressions that came to me live and direct.
The project is dynamic and energetic in it’s entirety, rooted in a deeply soulful undercurrent, with the addition of xylophone notes at points, that draw out a tropical experience, allowing the project to essentially work as a track-list for the perfect British summer. Joyous in its sound, but with a familiar grounding blues feel.
“The project is dynamic and energetic in it’s entirety, rooted in a deeply soulful undercurrent”
There is a buoyancy to the tracks rooted in nurturing soulful foundations lifted by inspirative tempos. This album is the most beautiful coffee lounge collaboration that ties R’n’B together seamlessly with soulful electronica & lo-fi beats, whilst harmoniously providing a feeling of nostalgia balanced with futuristic elements within many of tracks. It takes listeners back to both 90’s r’n’b and early 2010s pop, alongside the vocals that add a fiery depth that draws you more deeply into the artistic production of each track.
This is the debut album for the South London born & bred producer following his 2017 EP, Night/Daze. Slightly more delicate in its sound, Night/Daze, gave us a taste of Joe Hertz’s, electronic genius, whilst Current Blues, is an elevated expression of the growth and solid strength in Joe’s musical expertise.
“This album is the most beautiful coffee lounge collaboration that ties R’n’B together seamlessly with soulful electronica & lo-fi beats”
Current Blues, encapsulates a variety of emotions that consume listeners in its smoothness, with the features (Pip Millett, Sophie Faith, Barney Artist & Nono - to name a few) just adding perfectly to musical altitude of the project. It takes listeners on a journey, each track pulling you in more deeply than the last. My favourite has to be One Sided featuring Kaleem Taylor. The smoothness of the album hitting a climax on this tune, with the velvety tones of Kaleem’s vocals meeting the deepness of trumpet notes that bring a multifaceted burst of life to this upbeat tune. I am honestly in love, this tune in particular had be brewing in excitement. No album is better suited for summer than this!
Current Blues is out now on all streaming platforms.